Chapter Text
SFIT secret lab, Thursday, April 15th, 2033, 10:30am
Well, it finally happened. While Momakase and Trina waited for Grace to bring Wendy and Karmi, they decided to read the newspaper Grace had brought them. The headline was “Sushi Chef Ninja Arrested in Underground Food Competition Ring for Theft”. She and Trina read it, with great uncomfortable-ness, with Momakase feeling past guilt. She decides to read it outloud.
“Last night on Wednesday, April 15th 2033, dangerous sushi chef and thief Victoria Kagami Kase, known professionally as Momakase, was apprehended by Big Hero 6 and arrested by the police at an illegal underground food competition known as “Food Fight”. Kase had stolen from Krei Tech CEO Allistair Krei 2 days prior, after coercing him into revealing the location by-“ Let’s just skip this part.” Momakase says, having said and thought about that moment one time too many. “She stole an experimental anti-gravity device. When asked about the crimes Kase had committed, Krei had this to say. “Nobody steals from Allistair Krei and gets away with it. And nobody tells Allistair Krei how much soy sauce to use!” Momakase puts the paper down in annoyance at the last line, before bursting into laughter with Trina.
“He actually said that?!” she laughed.
“Yep.” Momakase laughed hard. “He soaked that sushi til it got soggy!”
The two laughed for a bit more, before calming down. Momakase takes another look at the paper, at her photo. She laments a little, since they were in the part of her life she regretted. Trina puts her hand on her mother’s shoulder and then pulled her into a small hug. “We’re here for you, mom.” She says gently. Momakase then smiles, embracing the hug.
Grace enters with Wendy and Karmi, whom the latter uncovers her eyes upon entering. The three notice the hug and feel like-
“Did we come in at the wrong time?” Karmi asks, not knowing what to say.
Momakase and Trina gently break the hug and look at the three.
“No, you actually came in at a good time.” Momakase says, feeling better.
“That’s good.” Grace says. “Now, let’s finish repairing the time machine.”
12:40pm
After a lot of work, and a lunch break, Karmi and Wendy were almost finished. Wendy carefully adds the metal to the circuit board then uses a special machine to freeze dry it. She and Karmi then carefully add the replacement casing part to the device. After making sure it’s secure by a special type of tape, Wendy- “Karmi, could you please step back?” Karmi rolls back her chair as Wendy carefully welds the casing together, disintegrating the tape with it as the flame fused the metal and solidifying the metal glue. She then lets it cool down for a minute, before she and Karmi grab it and show it to Grace, Trina, and Momakase, who were gleaming and relieved.
“We just need to charge it.” Wendy explains. “Whatever energy this thing had, was expelled when it sent you back in time.”
“What did you say it ran on?” Karmi questions.
“It can hold 10 charges, after being charged by car batteries for 5 hours.” Momakase explains, making Wendy and Karmi’s pupils shrink in shock.
“Oh, um, I need to run to the store.” Wendy says, handing the device to Karmi before she and Grace run out of the lab. Karmi places the device on the desk, then as she walks to Trina, she notices the newspaper on Momakase’s lap. She remembers seeing her past self’s arrest on the news this morning, and what Momakase had told her about her past self showing up in the news. She knew that Momakase wasn’t a criminal, since she had respectfully asked Professor Granville about the three just in case, so this meant that Momakase had to relive a memory she seemingly didn’t like.
Momakase looks at Karmi staring into blank space. “Are you alright, Karmi?”
Karmi snaps out of it. “Huh, oh, yeah. Just thinking about stuff I’ve heard.”
“Alright, as long as you’re ok.” Momakase says, before tossing the newspaper at the wall. Trina then puts her hand on her mom’s shoulder to comfort her. Karmi sees this, and knows that Momakase regrets what happened. She walks up to Momakase.
“Are you ok?” Karmi asks, in a gentle concerned tone.
Momakase, caught off guard, nods weakly. “I’ll be ok. It’s just bad memories. Thank you for being concerned.”
Karmi puts on a weak smile. “I was just trying to help.”
5 ½ hours later, in an empty classroom
After finding 5 car batteries, and then checking the machine to make sure it could take them home and THEN hook up a makeshift charging station with the batteries, the machine was finally charged. Grace and Karmi had decided to do it in a classroom, since it was more open-spaced, and in private. 2032 Grace had approved of it, and was willing to pay for any damage. Wendy unplugs the machine then hands it to Grace.
“Alright, the device is ready. I adjusted the energy field so it can easily transport your family.” Wendy explains. “All you have to do is put in the co-ordinates and that’s it-“
Grace pulls Wendy into a surprise hug, catching the bright-colored scientist off-guard.
“Thank you, Wendy.” She says softly with great gratitude. Wendy smiles and pats Grace’s back. “Anytime.”
They then break the hug and Grace joins Momakase and Trina at the front of the room. She then puts on the time travel device bracelet and looks at Karmi. “Thank you Karmi. Your insight was invaluable.”
Karmi smiles and blushes out of flattery. “Thank you, professor.”
Momakase and Trina then grip onto Grace, who looks at Wendy and Karmi, and flashses a small smile. “See you soon.” She then sets the co-ordinates and then activates it. The three girls close their eyes as the purple light engulfs them, prompting Karmi and Wendy to shield their eyes from the brightness. They uncover their eyes when the light and sounds disappear, seeing an empty classroom. Wendy smiles. “We did it.” Karmi looks at Wendy and smiles, feeling proud that their work paid off.
“I better get going.” Wendy says, pointing to a non-existent watch. “I have a show soon. Take care, Karmi.”
Wendy then runs out of the door, leaving Karmi in the classroom alone. Karmi puts on a small smile. “She may be kooky, but she is a good scientist. I just hope I remember that.”
SFIT Courtyards, Tuesday, October 4th, 2033,10:32am
Nate was pacing back and forth as he tried to think of a plan. He could build another time machine- wait that would take too long, although time was technically on his si- A bright light appears near him, prompting him to shield his eyes until the lights and noises stopped. When he lowers his arm, he is shocked and relieved to see that Momakase, Trina, and Grace were ok. Momakase and Trina let go of Grace, who quickly takes off the time machine. Nate, hysterically laughing, runs up to the three.
“You’re back.” Nate says. “I wasn’t sure for 2 minutes about what to do.”
The three blink as they realize what he meant. “We were gone for a day.” Grace explains. “We wanted to go back to as right after we left, but we didn’t want to risk mixing leftover energy with the new energy.” He then hands Nate the device. “Two of the circuit lines corroded, causing it to overheat, mainly in one area.” She explains. “That’s why it glitched.”
Nate examines the device, noting the gray metal patch on the casing.
“We got help fixing it, but don’t worry.” Momakase assures Nate. “No one knows you built it, and only 2 people actually saw the time machine, with only 3 knowing about it in total.”
Nate smiles, before slightly sulking looking at the three. “I’m very sorry about what happened.” Nate says. “I thought all the kinks were worked out.”
“It did work.” Momakase gently says. “It sent you back to our childhood. While it glitched, it sent us back to spring of last year. It functions, it just needs some fine tuning.”
Nate smiles, feeling reassured. “Thank you. I should get going to ensure that what happened today doesn’t happen again.”
Momakase nods. “Take care.” She smiles. Grace and Trina then wave, prompting Nate to smile and wave before walking away. The three then reminisce about being in the past.
“I still can’t believe we time traveled.” Trina says, still in awe.
“We have quite a story to tell one day.” Grace gleams.
“That’s why she wasn’t mad.” Momakase realizes, with a soft and gentle tone of voice. Grace and Trina look at Momakase, confused.
“What do you mean?” Grace asks.
“When I properly meant Wendy back in August, she didn’t seem too mad.” Momakase clarifies. “She said that I was nice and that I changed for the better and she forgave me. Our trip must’ve vouched for my past self.” She says, weakly and not believing what she was saying. Grace and Trina look at each other than back at Momakase, realizing the latter was right.
“I believe you’re right.” Grace says, before smiling. “That just means Wendy met you when you were,” Grace stops, not knowing what to saw. “How do I say this without it sounding horrible?”
Momakase smiles when she realizes what Grace is trying to say. “She met me before she met my villain self.”
Grace, blushing a bit in embarrassment, smiles and nods. “As much of an interesting time we’ve had, I have to go prepare for next period. I’ve been putting it off for a day.” This causes Momakase and Trina to snicker. “I’ll see you two at home. Take care.” She then starts cleaning up the tools. Momakase then looks at Trina.
“Trina, can you please walk with me?” She asks.
“Of course.” Trina says. She then goes to the wheelchair handles and pushes her mom’s wheelchair onto the sidewalk, then the two start taking a stroll.
“Being the past, when I was feeling bad and you two reassured me, I felt different.” Momakase admits in a gentle tone. “Relieved, comforted, and loved yes, but I also felt different.”
“Different how?” Trina says in a slightly quiet and calm tone.
“Like,” Momakase tries to find the words, “a weight has been taken off my shoulders. Like although I’m not done making amends for what I’ve done, I feel like I’ve finally fully accepted that I’ve changed.”
Trina smiles. “That’s great, mom.”
The two stop at the building, and turn around to stroll the other way. Momakase smiles.
“I’ve fully accepted that the person I am now, and now,” Momakase takes a deep breath, she then smiles with a few tears in her eyes.
“I don’t call myself Momakase in my head anymore.” Victoria says, feeling relieved. To her surprise, Trina stops pushing and activates the break. Trina then comes around and hugs her mom, with her mom hugging back. Victoria smiles, feeling the love of the hug and feeling glad to be herself again.